Ball washer



S. G. MEIKLE mm, M), 393.

BALL WASHER Filed Feb. 26, 1934 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to golf-ball washers of the type adapted to beattached to thesand-boxes or other suitable supports at the teeing-offplaces of golf-courses, and which include a water-container havingtherein a brush against which the ball to be washed is reciprocated by aplunger.

It is an object of the invention generally to provide a device of thiskind that is comparatively simple in construction and economical toproduce, and in which worn parts may be replaced easily and cheaply.

When considered with the description herein, the details of constructionand arrangement of parts of the device of this invention are apparentfrom the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, wherein anembodiment of the invention is disclosed, for purposes of illustration.

Although the embodiment disclosed now isconsidered to be a preferableone, it is to be understood that it is not the intention to be limitednecessarily thereto in interpretation of the claims, as modificationsand adaptations within the limits of the claims can be made Withoutdeparting from the nature of the invention.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views ofthe drawing, of which- Fig. l is an elevation, with one of thecontainerwalls partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the lower part of the plunger;

Fig. 5 is a view of the cover.

The device includes a somewhat elongated container 5, open at the top,and preferably of sheet metal and rectangular in cross-section, thecontainer being adapted to hold soapy or other water for cleaning balls,and having side walls I, end walls 8, and a bottom 9.

oppositely-positioned longitudinal pairs of flanges or guides Hi and IIare fixed to, and extend inwardly from, the side walls. These flangesmay be secured to the walls in any suitable manner. Economically, andalso for afiording longitudinal reinforcement of the Walls, the flangesmay be turned marginal portions of sheet-metal strips l2 welded to thewalls.

The pair of guides Ill are sufficiently distant from one of the endwalls to accommodate arcuate springs 13, and also a brush-back M or thecorresponding part of any other suitable cleaning member, the bristlesN3 of the back or other cleaning surface being on the side toward theother end wall. The back is positioned between the springs, which bearagainst the end wall,

and :the guides l0, .and the springs force the back toward and againstthe guides H], which marginally overlap the back. The lower end of theback rests on :a :stop member I6 fixed to, and projecting upwardly from,the bottom of the 5 container 6.

The brush is retained in the container by a sheet-metal cover I! overthe space between the guides Ill and the end wall. The cover comprises afiat .or web portion l8, which has 10 at its ends depending portions 19terminating in inturned flanges 20; and along one of its longer sides anupstanding flange 2| with its material downturned from the top as a lip22 whereby a channel is .afiorded between the flange and its lip.

The cover -.is 'so proportioned that, when the brush-back is resting onthe stop it, it may be pushed downwardly into place with is flanges 28contactable by the top of the back, the members I9 pressing outwardlyagainst the sides of the container, and the flange 2| and its lip 22tightly embracing the upper end of the container end wall, whereby thecover is held frictionally in place and the brush maintained in properposition.

A ball-moving plunger is reciprocable in the container opposite to thebrush. The plunger comprises a handle 23, a shank 2A, a ball-cup 25affording a ball-holding depression at or near the 30 lower end, and aplate-like lower terminal portion 26 with substantially parallel sidesand of a Width nearly the distance between the side walls of thecontainer. During reciprocation of the plunger, it is guided by theguides H and the side and end walls between which the platel liketerminal moves in a raceway thus provided. The plunger is of such lengththat, when it is at the limit of its downward movement in the container,its handle extends above the top of the container.

The parts are so arranged and proportioned that a golf-ball of standardsize in the plungercup extends into the bristle mass of the brush, oragainst the cleaning surface of any other suitable cleaner. As the ballis reciprocated against the cleaning element, it is rotated in the cup,and all of its surface is cleaned. When the brush is new, it is movedbackwardly against the springs as the ball is reciprocated, and there iscompensation for wear in that the springs keep the bristles agains theball until they become much worn.

When it is desired to remove the brush after being worn, for turning endfor end, or for replacement by a new one, the cover is pulled off, 5

and then the brush can be pulled straight out of the container andreplaced by shoving straight down between the springs and the guides l0,after which the cover is closed by being pushed back into wedgingbrush-retaining place between the container side walls and over the topedge of the end wall.

One or more members 21 on the container are for securing the device toany suitable support.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Aball-cleaner comprising acontainer, therein a pair of longitudinaloppositely-positioned guides, a cleaning member movable longitudinallyand bodily straight into and out of said container in contact with saidguides, releasable means whereby said member is retained insaidcontainer, a plunger reciprocable in said container and arranged toreciprocate a ball against said member, and longitudinal guides in saidcontainer limiting lateral movement ofs'aid plunger toward said member.

2. A ball-cleaner comprising a container, therein a pair of longitudinaloppositely-disposed guides, a cleaning member movable longitudinally andbodily straight into and out of said container between an end Wallthereof and said guides, an arcuate spring between said end wall and theback of said member and pressing the latter toward said guides,releasable means whereby to retain said member in place, longitudinalguides near the container-wall opposite to the front of said member, anda. plunger reciprocable between said latter wall and said latter guidesarranged to move a ball in contact with said member.

3. A plunger formed with a handle at one end, a ball-cup, and adjacentto said cup marginal portions having substantially parallel edgesarranged to contact with guides of the raceway of aball-cleaner,

4. A plunger formed with a handle at one end, a ball-cup, and a flatpart having substantially parallel edges arranged to contact with sidesof the raceway of a ball-cleaner.

5. A plunger comprising an elongated member formed with a handle at oneend, and at the other end with a ball-cup and a plate-like part havingsubstantially parallel edges arranged to contact with guides of theraceway of a ballcleaner.

6. In a ball-cleaner comprising a container having an opening and acleaning member slidably placeable and displaceable through saidopening, a retainer for said member comprising inwardly-extending partsfrictionally engageable with opposite container-walls and constitutingstops toprevent displacement of said member from said container.

7. In a ball-cleaner comprising a container having an opening and acleaning member slidably placeable and displaceable through saidopening, a retainer for said member comprising inwardly-extending partsfrictionally engageable with opposite container-walls, said retaineralso having a channel capable of frictionally embracing an edge of acontainer-wall.

8. A mounting for the body of a cleaning member comprising a channel inwhich said body is slidable, a stop limiting inward longitudinalmovement of said body, and a. removable closure for said channelopposite to said stop having inwardly-extending parts resilientlypressing against opposite sides of the channel whereby to hold theclosure frictionally in place, said parts constituting stops to preventdisplacement of said body from said channel.

9. A ball-cleaner comprising a container having a cleaning membertherein, a plunger reciprocable in said container arranged toreciprocate a ball in contact with said member, and guides in saidcontainer keeping said plunger from contact with said member.

10. A ball-cleaner comprising a. container, therein a cleaning memberadjacent to one of its walls and longitudinal guides adjacent to itsopposite wall, and a plunger reciprocable between said latter wall andguides arranged to reciprocate a ball in contact with said member, saidguides being positioned to keep said plunger from contact with saidmember.

STEWART GALT MEIKLE.

